Automatic ignition-grounder for motor-cycles.



w. E. BARD. AUTOMATIC IGNITION GROUNDER FOR MOTOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 21, 1913.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

mfiWd lnventor o Attomuys W|tnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER EDWARD BARD, 0F CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATIC IGNITION-GROUNDER FOR MOTOR-CYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed November 21, 1913 Serial No. 802,284.

. motorcycle when the latter is overturned.

A further object is to provide a device to which the ignition wires of amotorcycle are connected and which is to be secured to a motorcycle sothat when the latter is in its normal upright position the wires will bemaintained out of electrical connection, but, however, should themotorcycle become everturned, thus swinging the entire device out of itsnormal position, the said wires will be grounded to instantly stop themotor.

A further object is to provide a metallic receptacle in which is placeda mobile ele ment and which is adapted to come in contact with insulatedscrews the latter being connected to the spark plug so that the samewill be grounded when tilted from its normal upright osition.

IVit-h the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts'and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a partthereof, the preferable form of my invention is illustrated, in which:-s

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved device asattached to the frame of a motorcycle. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional viewthereof taken through the center of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional View of my device in which the mobile element is in the natureof a conduct; ing liquid such as mercury.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, a

box-like receptacle is formed with the metallic side walls at, end walls5, and bottom 6.

The bottom is provided with the outstanding flange 7 through whichsuitable retaining bolts 8 extend whereby the entire device may besecurely bolted to a bar 9 which in the present instance is a portion ofa tube of a motorcycle frame. The side and end walls are provided withthe outstanding flange 10 to which the lid 11 is secured by the bolts12. The lid 11 is provided with the central upstanding rim 13 which isinternally threaded for the reception of the plug 14 therein.

The upstanding rim 13 and plug 14 provide an entrance to the receptacleso that the mobile element either in the form of a liquid or a solid maybe introduced within the receptacle or removed therefrom. Extendingbetween the side Walls 4 is the partition 15 which is also secured tothe end walls 5 and at the juncture therewith is raised some littledistance above the bottom 6. The central portion of the partitionextends downwardly as at 16 to form what is termed the well 17.Positioned Within the said well is a mobile element which as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2 may be formed of a single metal sphere 18, a liquidconductor such as mercury and as illustrated at 19 in Fig. 3, or it maybe a plurality of small shot or allied material. The end walls 5 areprovided with the threaded apertures 20 extending therethrough whichapertures are spaced a distance above the partition 15. Extendingthrough the threaded aperture 20 is an insulating bushing 21, the latterbeing provided with the central threaded aperture 22extendingtherethrough and through which extends the metallic screw 23which projects some little distance beyond the bushing. A Wire 24connects with the screws 23 and lead to the insulated portion of thespark plug diagrammatically represented at 25. The entire receptaclebeing formed of metal and bolted to the frame is necessarily grounded asis also the one wire of the high tension current which leads to thespark plug.

' In operation the longitudinal axis of the device which passes throughthe oppositely disposed screws 23 is placed at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the motorcycle so that should for any reason themotorcycle fall to either side the mobile element will be displaced fromthe well 17 and will flow or move into contact with the screws 23 so asto form an electrical connection beinstant the vehicle overturns thespark plug tion and into contact with the electric terminal, effectingan electric circuit therewith. After'the mobile element has been oncedisplaced, it will assume its posit-ion closing the electric circuituntil such time as the vehicle is completely righted. In this connectionit is to be noted that the term .mobile element is used in a broad senseand refers with equal force to the ball 18 or the liquid 19.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The combinationwith the electric circuit of an internal combustion engine of a tiltablevehicle, of means electrically connected to the insulated ortion of thespark plug and to the grounded portion thereof adapted to shunt saidspark plu during abnormal tilted positions of the ve 'icle.

2. A receptacle provided with a normally extending substantiallyhorizontal partition, said partition provided with a central well withinclined side Walls, a mobile element disposed Within said well, carriedby the receptacle-and adapted tobe brought into electric connectiontherewith by said mobile element, the said well preventing theescapement of said mobile element therefrom during slightly abnormalconditions, and the horizontal portions of said partition preventing thereturn of said mobile element tosaid well until normal and horizontalpositions are attained.

In'testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER EDWARD BARD. Witnesses:

S. W. KERR, C. L. OMAVERTY.

tween the screws and partition 15 and re-v maining portion of thereceptacle so that the insulated portion of the spark plug will beaccordingly grounded to thereby prevent a spark from jumping across theterminals of the spark plug which would cause the ignition of the gaswithin the cylinders. Thus should the motorcycle become overturned withthe rider pinned therebeneath, the en gine will be immediately stoppedwhich will avoid any possibility of the operator becoming mutilated bythe operation of the engine.

Also the likelihood of an explosion taking place is materially lessenedas the engine being immediately stopped there will be no live exhaustgases escaping from the engine which easily ignite the fuel as it flowsfrom the overturned tank.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that if the vehicle, which may bea motorcycle, aeroplane, or allied mechanism, becomes overturned thespark plug Will be shunted and a closed circuit providing for thesparking current thus preventing the occurrence of electric sparks atany point throughout the electric circuit. Thus a high tension coil ormagneto may be used and the i will be shunted, which is the same assaying that a closed and complete circuit Will be I provided for thesparking current.

A further feature of applicants. device resides in the fact that slighttilting of the vehicle as will necessarily occur during the operationthereof, will not displace the mobile element in the well due to themanner in which the side walls of the well are formed. However, shouldthe vehicle overturn or assume such position other'than it may assumewith safety, the mobile element I will pass from the well up upon thepartiinsulated contacts

